What to take to the Camino de Santiago?
Considered one of the most complex hiking and walking routes in our country, the Camino de Santiago combines sport with religiosity, in an approach that requires good logistics. Something key so that you do not miss anything when making the chosen route.
If you are used to walking or hiking, surely the possibility of doing the Camino de Santiago has crossed your mind. This pilgrimage route is one of the longest in Spain, although it has the advantage that, depending on where you start from, you will have a greater or lesser amount of travel. However, we are talking about routes that require certain preparations.
However, in this article we are not going to talk about how to prepare for the Camino de Santiago on a physical level, but we are going to focus on the logistics part, so to speak. And it is that knowing what to take for the Camino de Santiago is key so that you do not miss anything on your route, without carrying more weight than necessary. To make it easier for you to organize yourself, we leave some very useful tips for future pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, so that you do not have any doubts about how to organize a backpack for the Camino de Santiago.
The basics
Among the basic elements of the pilgrim, there is a backpack, with a good capacity and that should be as comfortable as possible. This backpack should have a capacity of about 45 to 30 litres, although if you do the Camino de Santiago in August, surely you can opt for one with a smaller capacity than if you travel the Camino de Santiago in winter, since in this case you will have to carry a waterproof cover, a rain poncho and other thick clothing, with which to protect yourself from the cold and humidity.
Another staple is the sleeping bag, unless you can afford to sleep in hotels. The sleeping bag must be light and adjusted to the season in which you do the walk. If you do it in winter, it is better to use a winter sleeping bag than a 3-season one, because when the cold gets worse in the area, it shows.
For hydration, nothing better than the usual canteen or a bottle of water. A vital object all year round and even more so in summer, due to the high temperatures. And as a last element, more and more pilgrims, when considering how to organize the Camino de Santiago, decide to include some trekking poles in their luggage. Some lightweight accessories that help set the pace and overcome the slopes and more complex areas of the terrain.
Clothes for the Camino de Santiago
Another key point when it comes to successfully overcoming the path is clothing, which must be adapted to the time of year we are in. We started talking about the footwear to do the Camino de Santiago, which should never be new, but we should have used it for at least one season. It is preferable to use low or medium-cut shoes, although if you do the walk in winter, it may be better to use trekking boots. As an alternative, in the summer you can resort to hiking sandals in certain sections, to refresh your feet a bit.
Regarding clothing, it is recommended to wear three shirts, two pairs of pants, long or short depending on the weather, a sweater or sweatshirt in summer and two in winter, 3 changes of seamless underwear, 3 pairs of socks also without seams, cap or visor and raincoat, if there is forecast of rain during the days of your route.
By the way, it never hurts to mark your wardrobe with iron- on clothing labels, which will help avoid any mix-ups at hostels. Also do not forget to include plastic bags in your backpack, to store dirty clothes and keep them separate from clean ones.
Toiletry bag and first aid kit
Since hygiene and general care is key during the route, among our tips for doing the Camino de Santiago, we cannot miss those related to the toiletry bag and the first-aid kit. Among its contents, it should include multipurpose liquid soap, suitable for hair, body and clothes. Something that saves weight and space in the backpack. We will also bring a brush, toothpaste, a comb and a light towel. Likewise, we include tissues, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products, if applicable. And do not forget sun protection, necessary throughout the year.
As for the first aid kit, it should have Vaseline for the feet, antiseptic and dressings, scissors and tweezers, as well as an analgesic such as paracetamol or similar. You can also include an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or diclofenac, as well as allergy products or those specific medicines that you require.
other accessories
As a closing of our guidelines regarding how to organize a backpack for the Camino de Santiago, we are going to mention certain diverse objects that can be useful to you at different stages of your route. Among them, we have the flashlight, very useful if the night appears unexpectedly. It is also a good idea to carry a compact Swiss Army Knife for any complications you may have.
Obviously, it is essential to carry your mobile phone, its charger and even an external battery, in case your route takes longer than necessary. It is also useful to bring sunglasses, as well as energy bars or some nuts, to recover energy during the different stages of the route.
Finally, within the optional accessories are the mat, with which to take a nap in summer anywhere, as well as the swimsuit, for obvious reasons. It is also useful to carry clothespins, some cream for circulation and bumps, in case you might need it, as well as reflective elements, with which to be more visible at night.
As a last piece of advice, we remind you that it is vital to carry your documentation during the route, where you should not miss your DNI, health card, money, cards and your pilgrim’s credential.
